Apparatus for making tubing



Dec. 20, 1949 c. E. SLAUGHTER 2,491,589

APPARATUS FOR MAKING TUBING Original Filed May 1'7, 1945 2 Shets-Sheet l Dec- 20,1 4 c. E. SLAUGHTER 2,491,539:

APPARATUS FOR MAKING TUBING Original Filed May 17, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 CMrZesZf hzgyfiier,

Patented Dec. 20, 1949 Uhll'iED STATES} WHEN? QFFICE signer to Extruded Plastics, Inc, Norwalk, Conn, a corporation of {Jonnecticut Qriginal application May 1'7, 1943, Serial No.

Bivided and this application October 153, i946, Serial No. 703,320

6 Claims.

This invention relates to synthetic resinous tubing of substantially uniform character and machines for making the same.

In the extrusion of thermoplastic tubing considerable difilculty has been experienced in the production of such tubing of large internal bore or diameter and also in cases of smaller diameter tubing where the wall of the tube is insufficient in thickness to prevent collapse during the course of manufacture. For example, in one method of extrusion, the tubing from the regular extrusion die is passed directly into a water bath set at a predetermined temperature, which bath exhibits two different effects on the tubing. The low temperature of the water compared with that of the hot plastic, hardens it to a predetermined shape and so prevents collapse of the tubing from the efiect of gravity. At the same time, however, the pressure exerted by the water tends to make the tubing collapse since the external pressure, due to the surrounding water, is greater than the internal pressure.

In small diameter tubing, as for instance, A; inch 0. D. with a inch wall, or even in the larger diameter tubing, such as inch but with a very small bore, as for instance, inch bore, the pressure exerted by the water is insufficient to cause deformation; but in the thinner walls, especially in the larger diameters, this collapse is very serious. To overcome this external water pressure, it is necessary to balance the internal pressure exactly against the external pressure.

One expedient to balance these pressures is to extrude the tubing vertically into water or other coolant while blowing air through the core of the die to balance the column of water around the tube. This expedient requires expensive installation since it is necessary to extrude from a height of not less than 20 feet in order to obtain a standard commercial 12 foot length, and in addition the problem of cutting off to length is very difficult since this must be very difficult since this must be carried out while the tubing is submerged to a depth of 8 or 10 feet.

A further expedient which may be used with very flexible types of tubing, such as poylvinyl resins, etc., consists of sealing the tube and blowing air into it. When it is necessary to cut the tubing to length, the tube is rescaled just be-- fore the cut. is impossible to control the air pressure exactly and further, this process is not commercially possible on the rigid types of resins, such as the styrenes, acetate butyrates, unplasticized vinyls, etc.

This is most unsatisfactory as it Nor has it proved particularly satisfactory to seal the end of the tube with a stopper such as a rubber cork provided with a small hole cut through its length to permit a small stream of air to pass through, while at the same time building up sufficient back pressure so that the internal pressure exerted by the air and the external pressure exerted by the water are balanced. Even with this expedient the tubing cannot be out without causing a collapse, which collapse while not So serious in the smaller diameter tubing, in volving a waste of a few feet of misform'ed tubing, is so serious with larger diameter tubing such as 1 inch and above, that the process is uneconomical.

In such tubing where the ratio of wall thickness to internal bore is insufficient to prevent collapse of the tubing when the resinous material is in plastic condition during the extrusion process or to prevent substantial variation in external diameter from a given predetermined size, dilficulties are encountered. For example, even in small diameter tubing of say inch 0. D. x inch 1. D. it has not been possible to maintain the desired tolerances in diameter. In larger size tubing, as for example, one inch in diameter and above, the difficulties were insuperable and no such large size tubing has heretofore been made.

Among the objects of the present invention is l the production of extruded. synthetic resinous tubing of substantial uniformity throughout its length.

Further objects include th production of such tubing of large size diameter.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will appear from the more detailed description set forth below, it being understood that this more detailed description is given by way of explanation and illustration only, and not by way of limitation, since various changes therein may be made by those skilled in th art without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

In connection with that more detailed description, there is shown in the accompanying drawing, in

Figure 1, an elevation, partly in section, illustrating one device that may be employed in accordance with the present invention; in

Figure 2, a detail of a floating plug shown in Figur l; in

Figure 3, a modified form of apparatus that can be utilized in accordance with the present invention; in

Figure 4, a further modification of apparatus that can be employed in carrying out the present invention; in

Figure 5, a section through a cross-head of extrusion machine utilized in accordance the present invention; in

Figure 6, a section through a cross-head of extrusion machine using a porous mass floating plug; and in Figure '7, a section. through extruded tubing illustrating a further modification of the invention.

In accordance with the tr'rsynthetic resinous ti ding is produced in continuous lengths of uniform cross-section maintained within close tolerances, particularly where the ratio of wal thickness of the tubing to its internal bore is insufficient to prevent collapse of the tubing when the resinous material is in plastic condition during the extrusion process. Tolerances within limits of or minus one' nal'i of one per cent are readily maintained by the present invention. In small size tubing this will be'less than .985 inch and tubing may be re .dily produced which does not vary in cross-section throughout the length of the tubing more than from 1061 inch to .602 inch. Such tubing, for example, may be of a size inch 0. D. x inch I. D. and in lengths i" 1309 feet. The invention is particularly useful in the production of uniform thin walled tubing of at least inch 0. D. and specifically above /4 inch 0. D. There is also included large diameter tubing or" 1 invention exinch or more diameter running to .3 inches in diameter and higher.

In accordance with the present invention, collapse of tubing i'extruded thermoplastic type while in non-selisustaining plastic condition, is prevented by introducing a fluid such as air within the tubing, and the fluid pressure is main-- tained substantially uniform to obtain tubing held to close tolerances. The pressure is maintained during extrusion and cooling desirably between the points ofextrusion and cutting either by a floating plug or by a porous or semi-permeable mass anchored in position in the tubing or in other ways.

As illustrated in Figure l, the extruded thermoplastic tubing i after extrusion from the usual extruding die i2 and immersion in a cooling bath it such as water, is received on the belt conveyor The usual means it is utilized for introducing fluid pres. ure such as air pressure, within the tube 1 by ap ropriate means within the die, as through a cross-head.

A plug 2 is floated within the tubing 1 at some convenient position between the points of extrusion and cutting and may be maintained with in the tubing 6 by being anchored by the strand 3 to a magnetizable core A solenoid 5 of annular cross-section has a central opening 6 within which the extruded tubing i may pass freely, electrical connections 7: being provided f the solenoid 5. The core l may consist of a number of lengths of Swedish iron wire 8, held together by bands a, one of the wires such as iii extending beyond the core connected to the strand 3 to which the plug 2 is attached.

Des ably the plug 2 consists of a number of woolen strands ll.

Strands of wool may desirably be used for the tail or plug 2 as it has been found that the static electricity generated by the plastic traveling over the rubber conveyor belt, holds the strands of wool in contact with the internal surface of the plastic allowing a small or minor amount of fluid to pass through but permits the internal pressure of the fluid or air to be maintained within close limits such as plus or minus one inch of water pressure. The plug or tail 2 may thus be said to float within the tubing I while the latter is being carried forward by the conveyor belt B and yet eiiectively seals the fluid pressure within the extruded tubing I so that when the tubing passes to the cutting or shearing element I4 the pressure is maintained within the tubing while it is being extruded and prevents any collapse.

The form of device, and means for floating the plug or tail within the tubing, including the tail itself of woolen strands, the solenoid, and the core may be replaced by other means and expedients, so long as a floating plug is maintained within the tubing to retain the necessary pressure to prevent collapse of the tubing. The method and means illustrated may be utilized in producing tubing of any desired internal bore or diameter and for the first time makes it possible to extrude thermoplastics, particularly synthetic resinous tubing of relatively'large internal-diameter; such as 1 inch, l 'inch and larger. If desired, particularly in the case of the larger size extruded tubing, or in event where desired, several floating plugs maybe positioned within the tubing at any desired points. I

It is desirable to place the plug for maintaining the pressure within the tubing, at a substantial distance from the extrusion die since in this Way, there is provided a comparatively large volume of entrapped air between the point of extrusion and the point where the plug is positioned, and this comparatively large volume of entrapped air within the tube acts as ariair cushion and takes up any minor variation in air pressure that may occur through minorchanges in inside diameter or any other changes which give rise to fluctuations.

In the form of device illustrated in Figure 3, in lieu of utilizing a" Woolen strand tail or plug as illustrated in Figures 1' and 2, there is illustrated a device in which a solid plug is utilized both for the purpose of maintaining the-desired fluid pressure within the tubing during extrusion,

and also to control the size of thetubing produced very closely. When the" latter expedient is desired, the plug'lmay be a few thousandthsof an inchlarger than theextruded I. D: and may be placed close enough' to the extrusion die so that the material isstillin a semi-plastic condition. More desirably the tubing may be reheated at any pre-determinedlength from the die and the plug used at thatpoint,"inorder to provide an adequate air cushion. The plug in these instances may be a cylindrical rod, ball, or any other shape desired, desirably of non-magnetic material attached as a tail to the laminatediron core. Means for permitting a stream of airto 'pass'the plug is desirably provided. As shown in Figure 3, a ball 32' is-emp'l'oyed; having the desired'diameter and provided with a small perfo-rationor hole 33 to permit astreamof air to pass through. By utilizing a sufficientlyjstrong magnetic field, the'eXtruded'tubing is pulled ver the ball 32 "and expanded by" af'ew'thousandths of'an inch to obtain the true internal bore'de'sired In the modification shown'in Figure fl, the plug is shown as ofmagnetizablematerial which is maintained in position'by the solenoidbothfor the purpose of retaining the necessar fluid pressure Within the tubing l ancl'also to shape the tubing to the desired internal bore. Inthislcase the plug consists of magnetizable material, for

example, in the shape of a cylinder 44 having perforation 45, the cylinder floating within the tubing l maintained in position by the solenoid 5. Here again as in the device of Figure 3, the machine of Figure 4 is employed at a point where the tubing is semi-plastic so that the plug serves not only to maintain the air pressure in the tubing I, but also to shape the internal bore of the tubing to the true bore desired.

The standard type of extrusion machine of the cross-head type may be modified for use in accordance with the present invention and other means for positioning the floating plug may be employed as shown in Figure 5. Such machines are particularly useful in the production of large diameter tubing to secure a more even flow of material around the core in the die. As shown in Figure 5, the tube 5! is extruded from the die 52 into which the plastic material is fed by the worm 53 around the core 54, a centrally placed orifice or opening 55 permitting the introduction of air to support the tube during extrusion.

While a floating plug of any desired type as illustrated in Figures 1-4 may be utilized as er 1- plained hereinabove, other expedients may be utilized. Thus a wire 56 may be attached to the die 52 at any desired point and threaded through the opening in the core the wire extending forwardly into the tube ti carried on belt 5?, and a floating plug 52 as shown and described in Figures 1 and 2 attached to the wire 58 at 559. The air pressure in the tube is sui" ficient in conjunction with the extruding operation to maintain. the plug in desired position for its function set forth above. The apparatus of Figure 5 will thus function exactly in the way described above for Figure l to produce large diameter tubing of uniform size maintained within close range of tolerances.

The type of floating plug illustrated in Figure 5 attached to a wire running to the die may be utilized in any of the machines such as those illustrated l, 3 and i in lieu oi the magnetic means for maintaing the floating plug in position. The floating plug illustrated in Figure 5 may be the woolen strand type as shown in Figure 2 or may be the metal types shown in Figures 3 and l or the porous mass type shown in Figure in any such instances such floating plug bein maintained in position by means of the wire or other means as described above.

While the core has been set forth above to be produced 01? Swedish iron wire, it may be made of any desirable magnetizable material, as for example, alnico, etc. Whereas in the structure shown in Figure i, thecore is itself utilized as the floating element, and that core is subjected to a solenoid or other magnetizing means to retain it in position, the material of which the floating element id is composed, should be of such nature, that it does not adhere so tenaciously to the eX- truded tubing being formed, as to be withdrawn from its position within the magnetic field created by the solenoid. Materials like brass or stainless steel may desirably be employed.

In connection with the type of material used for such elements it may also be pointed out that such choice of material may depend on the expedient employed for maintaining the floating plug in position. illustrated herein, a solenoid has been employed to produce a magnetized field which acts on the mandrel or core to hold it in position. However, this is illustrated only for purposes of explanation and exemplification and any other means may be employed in this conect ion to hold the plug in position within the extruded tube. Thus it is possible to utilize eddy currents or to use induced currents to float a desired plug or device within the extruded tube for these purposes and the choice of material from which the floating element is produced will depend on the exact conditions under which such element is employed.

In connection with the core described herein, it may be pointed out that the eddy currents from solenoid described herein create a substantial amount of heat if the core is not laminated. Where, however, the plug is used as shown in Figures 3 or where we actually draw the inside bore of the tube, the heat generated by eddy currents may be advantageously utilized.

the methods and means herein set forth, it is possible to extrude thermoplastic tubing particularly of synthetic resinous character, of true bore within a tolerance of one-half of one per cent by continuous extrusion methods avoidany collapse of the tubing during such manuiacture even when out in any desired prede termined length, such as standard 12 foot length. Extruded tubing of any desired cross-section may be produced such as circular, oval, elliptical, square, hexagonal, etc.

Instead of using floating plugs of substantially solid character as illustrated above, the plug may be made of a porous mass or semi-permeable material such as sponge rubber anchored in position by any or" the means set forth above between the die and the cutting off apparatus, the mass being sufilciently porous to permit taking up slight variations 0r permitting adjustment to slight variation in the internal diameter of the tubing being extruded. Figure 6 illustrates the utilization of a plug of this character. As there shown, a wire or other attaching means 66 may be attached to the die 62 at any desired point such as 66' and threaded through the opening 65 in the core 54, the wire extending forwardly into the tube Eii carried on belt iii and a floating plug 68 attached to the wire 66 at 69. The fluid pressure in the tube is suificient in conjunction with the extruding operation to maintain the plug anchored in the desired position for its function as set forth above. The plug 68 may be of sponge rubber or other porous material or semi-permeable substance which will maintain a substantially uniform air or fluid pressure in the tubing, the mass being sufiiciently porous to permit adjustment to slight variations in the internal diameter of the tubing.

As illustrative of other methods that may be utilized in lieu of floating plugs, reference may be made to Figure 7. In this case the extruded tubing H is given a bend as illustrated at 12 to form a trap within which a liquid such as mercury 13 may be introduced to form an air look. In long lengths of tubing, the tubing itself will bow sufiiciently to form the trap. The tubing is out beyond the trap at a point such as that indicated at 14.

Any desired thermoplastic materials may be utilized in the production of such extruded tubing in accordance with the present invention, particularly synthetic resinous materials such as cellulose derivatives including the esters, particularly cellulose acetate and cellulose acetate butyrate, and the cellulose ethers such as ethyl cellulose; polymerized vinyl materials such as polymerized vinyl acetate, styrenes, and other thermoplastic and resinous compositions that '1 may ibeiextruded: in continuous lengths; including the vinyl resins and. nylon type resins. I Thereaiis'anoutstanding advantage in the use iof .the inventionin makinglong coils of tubing of, for example; relatively small diameter such as 4/ inch 0. D; x inch I. D. in coils of about 1000 feet length. It was'ioundthat even under such conditions, the volume of air that leaked past the device was so insignificant that there was no worthwhile friction built up and the necessary .tol'erances'were readily maintained in holding the tubing throughout its length to the shape desired with accuracy of dimension as herein-set forth.

While the invention has'been particularly illus- 'e'xtrudingthermoplastic tubing in non-self-sustainingplastic':'condition, means for introducing a fluid within the tubing during extrusion to pl'e vent collapse of thetubing, means for maintain- .ing the-pressure' of the fluid substantially uni- 1 form' within the tubing, means for cooling. the tubing :to a temperature at which it is self susutaining and. means for cutting'ithe tubing to a predetermined length; the pressure maintaining means including. a :plugseparated-from the ex- ;rtrusion means but positioned within the tubing betweenthe points of extrusion and .cutting-zat adistance from the extrusion means which plug J permitspassage of a minor amount of fluid :but .maintains the fluid pressure incthe extruded tubing, the plug "being maintained in position by means extending" from theplu'g through the tub ing tozthe extrusion'me'ans to anchor the pluginto position.

2; Apparatus as set'forth in claim 1; inwhich the plug. is made i of woolen strands.

" 3." Apparatus asfset'forth in claim 1,--in-which theplug; is a metalplug-having a fluidpassage therein.

4. Apparatus as set forth-inclaim 1;. in which the "plug is a porous mass.

15.' ;Apparatus asset forth'in claim 1 inwhich the plugis maintained in positionby a wire 'exmending-from the plug through-the tubingto the extrusion means :to' anchor the plug in position.

' 6. Apparatusfor manufacturing thermoplastic tubing by: extrusion which comprises means' for "extruding thermoplastic tubing in non-self-sustaming-plastic condition; means for: introducing 1 a fiuidwithin the-tubing during-extrusion to preventcolla-pseuof the tubing, means for maintaining-thepressure of the-fluid substantially uniformwwithin the tubing, means forcooling the tubing to a temperature at which it is self sustaining, and means for cutting the tubing to a predetermined length,'the pressure maintaining means including a plug floating within the tubing at a point after the tubing has been cooled and-thereby made self supporting, said point lyingbetween the points of extrusion and cutting, the plug being maintained in position by a wire attached to and extending from the plug through the tubing to the extrusion means.

CHARLES E. SLAUGHTER.

REFERENCES CITED ihefollowing references are of record in the file oi'this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,133,610 Bleecker Mar. 30, 1915 2,284,866 Hansson June 2,1942 2,377,908 Slaughter June 12, 1945 

